Special to BIZ.
After much anticipation, we are excited to announce the official launch of the new Shreveport Financial Empowerment Center (FEC) on May 18th, 2020. This new addition to United Way of Northwest Louisiana’s programs and services will help local residents meet their short and long-term financial goals. Through a partnership with the City of Shreveport and United Way of Northwest Louisiana, the Shreveport FEC provides professional, one-on-one financial counseling and coaching as a free public service to local residents.
During the FEC ribbon-cutting, Shreveport Mayor, Adrian Perkins, spoke on the significance of the FEC and how it will benefit the community.
“This vital service will help area residents manage their money, pay down their debt, grow their savings, establish and build credit, as well as access safe and affordable mainstream banking services, rather than having to rely on alternative financial services, which can be predatory and counterproductive to their financial well-being,” said Mayor Perkins.
Within the Shreveport FEC, professionally trained counselors are working diligently with individuals and families to improve their financial success. At the core of the organization’s model is the integration of counseling into other social services, such as housing and foreclosure prevention, workforce development, prisoner reentry, benefits access, domestic violence services, and more. With this in mind, the FEC goes deeper than teaching individuals how to manage money.
Mayor Perkins stressed, “Not only will the FEC help Shreveport families achieve financial stability, but it will address some of the systemic socioeconomic conditions that impede progress in our city.”
After three years of preparation, the organization is more eager than ever to begin enhancing lives one financial coaching session at a time. “I’m confident that the Financial Empowerment Center will help countless area families realize financial independence and help our community build a stronger, and more prosperous future,” concluded Mayor Perkins.
Due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements, only video conference appointments are available at this time. In person appointments will be available in the future after concerns about the current pandemic have passed. To schedule your own video conference appointment through our easy online scheduling system, visit: https://shreveportfec.as.me/.
United Way of Northwest Louisiana is proud to partner with the City of Shreveport and the Cities for Financial Empowerment to bring this much-needed resource to our community. We look forward to sharing Shreveport FEC success stories with you in the future, as we assist local residents in transforming their financial stability for the better.